The Labor Ministry has brought the Firestone Plantation Company(FPC)
down guilty for wrongfully dismissing two employees and awarded the said
employees US$48,620.00; as Timothy T. Seaklon reports.

Our investigation proves that the two former employees, Tom
Karmala and Nelson Barren were dismissed by Firestone last December using
the infamous Labor Law 1508 Section 3,. which states that the employer has
the right to hire or fire.

According to our investigation, Firestone dismissed the two
employees without any justifiable reason but the 1508 Section 3, which many
labor experts believe has been a major human rights issue in the country’s
labor history.

Mr. Tom Karmala and Nelson Barren worked for the company for
the period of 20 and 19 years respectively, but were abruptly fired without
benefits on December 3, 2003.

The two through their legal counsel, Scott and Associate Law
Firm filed their case at the Labor Ministry with Firestone being represented
by the Sherman and Sherman Law Office.

After a thorough look into the matter, the labor commissioner
assigned in Harbel, Mr. Abu Tucker brought the company down guilty for “wrongful
dismissal”.

The Labor Ministry then ruled that Firestone pay Mr. Karmala
who worked for a period of 20 years, 24 months salary and 4 months non-leave
entitlement, totaling US$ 21,200.00.

The Labor Ministry also ruled that Firestone pay Mr. Barren
who worked for 19 years, 24 months salary and 4 months non-leave entitlement,
totaling US$ 23,760.00.

Mr. Karmala and Barren served as Operation Supervisor and
Laboratory Supervisor respectively at the Firestone Hospital in Harbel prior
to their dismissal on December 3, 2003.

Firestone had earlier agreed to pay the two men one month
each for their service to the company, our investigation revealed.

Meanwhile, Firestone’s lawyer, the Sherman and Sherman
Law Firm has taken the case to the Circuit Court in the City of Kakata,
Margibi County, where the ruling of the Labor Commissioner would form the
basis for the case.

During a visit to the Labor Commissioner’s office in
Harbel, a source said his ruling is being forwarded to the court in Kakata,
as our investigation continues.